Cotton-picker.



' W. A. PEPPS! cp'rrroN Pimm. PPLQYIQH FILED IUNBES, 1908. BBEEWED l00T. S, 1909.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

the/provision of a cotton picker which is WILLIS A. PHIPPS, OF FAY, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-PICKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Nov. 16, 1909.

Application filed June 26, 1908, Serial No. 440,584. Renewed October 8, 1909. Serial No. 521,751.

To atl wh-om fit may concern: l

Be it known that 1, "VlLms A. lnlrrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fa y, I in the county of Dewey and State of Okla-v homa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Pickers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention rela-tes to improvements in cotton pickers,'and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a cotton picker which comprises a .receptacle and sets of relatively spaced fingers carried by the re ceptacle, the picker lingers being adapted to remove the bells from the plants and discharge them inte the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cotton picker wherein the setsl of picker fingers may be independently adjusted to compensate for plants of different heights,

A still further object of the invention is simple, durable and efiicient and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively lew cost.

Vith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cotton picker constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

The receptacle of my improved cotton picker comprises a bottom l, front 2, sides 3 and end gate d. An axle 5 is secured to the under side of the bottom l of the receptacle by means of clips ti, and the ends thereof are bent upwardly and then laterally. 'lhe upwardly bent portions of the axle are connected te the sides 3 of the receptacle through the medium et' attaching elements 7, and the lateraliy bent portions form pintlcs 8 upon which wheels 9 are journaled. liars l() are secured to the upper side of the bottom l et' 'the receptacle and are inclined upon each 'other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the receptacle, the bars adding strength and rigidity to the bottom of the receptacle. The bars 10 project beyond the 't'ront of the receptacle'te provide draft hars 11 which are inclined upon each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of thev receptacle. A clevis l2 is sei V draft bars 11.

cured to an". between the front. ends of the rlhe front ends of the draft bars are supported by a caster wheel 13.

Brackets 14 are secured to the sides 3 of the receptacle and project beyond the front 2 thereof, and a bracket 15 which includes a.

pair of relatively spaced ears 16 .is secured to the front 2 at a point centrally between the brackets 14. The projectin ends of the" brackets 14 and the ears 16 o the bracket 15 are provided with horizontally alined bearing openings in which a pair ef shafts 17-17 are journaled. Each shaft 17 comprises a head 18 and a threaded end 19. The shafts 17 and 17' are secured in the bearings against accidental displacement by means of their'heads -18 and nuts 20 which are mounted en their threaded ends. Each shaft 17 is provided with a setv ef relatively spaced picker fingers 21 which project forwardly and downwardly therefrom and which are inclined in tio` direction of the longitudinal' kaxis of the picker.

rEhe ieker fingers are rigidly secured to the sha t 17. The picker fingers of each set gradually increase in length outwardly from the innermost finger whereby they will during the movement of the machine progressively enter the cotton plants. As the picker fingers 21 pregressively enter the cotton lants the resistance elfered to the draft o the machine is re-L duced to the minimum. As the picker lingers are inclined in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine, the plants are spread whereb to facilitate theremeval of the bells therefrom by the fingers. The bells are discharged from the picker fingers into the receptacle. Levers are secured at their lower ends to the shafts 17 and 17, and provide means by which the downward inclination of the picker lingers .may be changed so as to compensate for cotton plants of different heights. The levers l22 are provided with dogs 28 which are designed for engagement with the teeth of arcuate racks 24. Hand levers 25 are pivotally mounted upon the levers 22 and are connected to the dogs 23 through the medium of rods 2G, said hand levers providing means by which the dogs imay be Withdrawn from engagement with the racks when it is desired te'change the downward inclination of the picker fingers. Springs 27 are interposed between the levers 22 and the levers 25, said springs being adapted to normally retain the dogs 23 in engagement with the racks 24. The racks 24 are secured at their endslto the draft bars ll and tothe front 2 of the receptacle. The levers 22 are Within i conYenient reach' of the occupant of the seat 1 "28 which 1s ycarried by anv arcuate support 29.

t0n picker ln'the use of which the bells may 'be removed from' two rows of plants on each passage of the picker over a ield, and that the boils will be deposited into the receptacle of the picker. As the downwaid inclination of the picker lingers may be changed the picker may be successfully used on a field containing plants of different heights. It should also be apparent that the cotton if cker is simple in construction and may ne manufactured and .sold at a comparatively low cost.

Changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims Without de parting from the spirit or sacriticing,` any of the advantages of the invention. l

Having thus described the invention, what I claiin as new is :f-

l. A cotton picker coi'nprisinga Wheeled receptacle, a draft means secured tothe rel ceptaele, and asetoi relatively spaced picker fingers secured to the receptacle, the fingers being of relativel)7 different lengths and in clined inaf'ardl;y .in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the picker.

2. A cotton. pickercomprising a heeled receptacle7 a draft means secured to the receptaele, sets of relatively spacer` picker lingers secured to the receptacle, the picker fingers being'inclincd inwardly in the di reetion ot the longitudinal axis of the picker.

In testiinon7 whereof l `my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VIL'LS A. 'P -l IPPS. -`"Vitnesses: y

I. U. SMITH, HAROLD YV. Sinai, 

